Basketball game apparatus



April 7, 1942- w. s. KETTERING 2,278,616

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'44 TTORNEYS.

April 7, 1942.

w. s'. KETTERING BASKET BALL; GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1940 s s'heets-snet 5 'n t tt '3 K8 IZV ENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BASKETBALL GAME APPARATUS Willard s. Kettering, Pueblo, 0010.

Application August 29, 1940, Serial No. 354,745 2 Claims. (01. 273-15) The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be used in connection with the playing of a basket ball game. The invention aims to provide a basket of novel form, causing a delayed return ofthe ball, to provide novel means for supporting the basket, and to provide a novel signal apparatus which functions when a goal is made.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

, In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows, in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an elevation wherein the device is viewed at right angles to the showing of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the basket;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the housing and attendant parts; i

-Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing a further modiflcation;

v Fig. 7 is a front elevation showing the basket mounted on a modified form of support;

Fig. 8 is 'a side elevation of the basket and the upp r portion of the support and showing the ball deflector;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of one of the devicesemployed for attaching the basket to its supporting ring.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, there is provided a basket I, which is carried by a support 2.

The basket I includes an upper ring3, which may be given a characteristiccolor, such as red, a lower ring '4, much smaller than the upper ring 3, to produce a delayed return of the ball, and an intermediate ring 5, located closely adjacent to the lower ring 4.

The rings 3, 4 and 5 are connected by first, downwardly converging, circumferentially spaced also, by similar, oppositely disposed second spokes I, which are stronger in construction than are the first spokes 6. The second spokes I merge into parallel, downwardly extended legs 8.

The lower ends of the legs 8 are connected to outwardly and upwardly projecting flanges 9, forming part of the top of a box-like housing II].

To the bottom of the housing III is secured the upper end of the upper member I I of a hollow, longitudinally extensible, telescopic pedestal, including a lower member I2, to the bottom end of which is secured a substantial foot plate I4.

The numeral I5 marks a spring-actuated latch,

1 the upper end of which works through a hole IS in the lower pedestal member I2, and is adapted to engage with any selected one of vertically spaced seats II in the upper pedestal member I I, to hold the pedestal at any length to which it may have been adjusted vertically.

Figure 4 shows that a box-like casing IB is secured to the bottom of the housing III, within the housing, the upper end of the upper pedestal member II being covered by the casing. As a consequence, small parts within the housing III, .which: may become detached accidentally, or which may be loose during assembly, will not drop down into the hollow pedestal. The casing I8, however, has other functions which will be made manifest hereinafter. I I

It is not necessary that the basket be carried by the longitudinally extensible pedestal shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 5, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the suifix a. The numeral I9 marks a support, such as a wall, in front of which is located a bank board 20, united with the support by rigid connections 2I and by a diagonal brace 22. The upper ring 3a of the basket Ia has an outwardly projecting arm 23, fixed to the bank board 20, a downwardly inclined brace 24 extending between one of the spokes Ia and the bank board.

Another means for supporting the basket is shown in Fig. 6. In that figure, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals used,,with the suflix b. The device under consideration is adapted to be used in connection with a pair of uprights 25, which may be the jambs of a doorway.

The support 2b comprises an extensible bank board 26, including a main member 21 and an spokes 6. The rings 3, 4 and 5, are connected, an

auxiliary member 28, the member 21 being considerably wider than the member 28, the bank board parts 21 and 28 being overlapped upon each other, adjacent to one of the uprights 25. The overlapped portions of the bank board members 21 and 28 are provided with registering openings 29, and into registering openings may be inserted securing devices 39, such as bolts and wing nuts. The construction is such that the bank board 26 may be adjusted grossly, to fill approximately, the space between the uprights 25.

A clamping means is provided, for engaging the uprights 25 which is remote from the upright wherewith the auxiliary member 28 of the bank board cooperates. The clamping means referred to includes angle bracket-s 3I, secured to the upper and lower edges of the main member 21 of the bank board, screws 32 being threaded into the angle brackets. Handles 33 are pivoted to the inner ends of the screws 32 for swinging movement, each in a single plane. Anchors 34 are secured to the main member 2T of the bank board 26, and to the anchors are attached the inner ends of oppositely projecting jaw strips 35, which may be resilient, the jaw strips being adapted to engage the adjacent upright 25, under the impulse of the screws 32.

The invention comprises a means whereby an audible signal or a visible signal, one or both, may be given when a basket ball is dropped into the basket I. In that connection, let attention be given to Fig. 4.

A hell or other audible signal 35 is secured within the housing II) and is adapted to be engaged by a metallic button 31, secured to the outer end of a striking lever 38, fulcrumed intermediate its ends at 39 on the casing I8 and extended within and without the casing. The inner end of the striking lever 38 is disposed in the path of an actuator, for instance a plunger 40, mounted for straight line vertical reciprocation in the top of the housing I and in the top of the casing IE, or otherwise. At its upper end, the plunger 4i] is provided with a button 4|, disposed within the basket I, centrally thereof. The plunger 40 is drawn upwardly by a pull spring 42, connected to the plunger and to the top of the housing I0.

When a ball enters the basket I, the plunger 40 is shoved downwardly, the striking lever 38 is actuated, and the button 31 engages the hell 3?: or its equivalent, to give an audible signal.

It is contemplated that, if desired, a visible signal shall be given, either alone, or in connection with the audible signal afforded by the bell 36. With that consideration in mind, an electrical circuit 43 is supplied, and the circuit cable 44 is extended downwardly, if desired, through the hollow pedestal II--I2 and through the casing I8. The means for supplying current is not shown, since it may be of any preferred form, forming, in itself, no part of the present invention. Then the circuit 43 may be interposed by a visible signal 45, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 4. The signal 45 may be an electric lamp.

An electric switch 48 is interposed in the signal circuit 43, and may be of any desired construction. As shown, but not of necessity, the switch 46 includes an arm 41, a link 48 being pivoted to the plunger 40 of the switch arm. When the plunger 40 is actuated by a ball received within the basket I, the signal 45 will become visible.

Another modified form of support has been shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9 wherein a telescopic standard 49 carried by a base 50 has longitudinal series of graduations 5I indicating units of measure and on the respective members of the telescopic standard are secured split rings 52 having oppositely extending ears 53 detachably joined by bolts 54. These rings can be adjusted longitudinally of the respective members of the standard and pass at any desired points by means of set screws 55. It is desired to use these standards in pairs in some conditions at which time the ears or wings 53, which have openings 55, can be used for attachment to the corners of the badminton net, not shown. When not used in this way the standards will be located at opposite ends of the support so that the baskets thereon will be in the proper positions for the game of basket ball.

In this modified structure a head 56 is detachably secure on the upper end of the standard by means of a set screw 51 and has a top disk 58. On opposite sides of the head are extended the lower portions of upwardly diverging legs 59 corresponding with the legs 8 and joined at their upper ends to the top ring 50. At a suitable distance below this top ring are located the intermediate and lower rings GI and 62 corresponding with the rings 5 and 4 respectively and joining the lower ring 62 to the disk 58 is a downwardly and forwardly inclined deflecting strip 63.

Fixedly attached to the ring 50 and extending downwardly therefrom is a series of regularly spaced stems 64 each of which merges, at its lower end, in a laterally extending coil 65. These coils are adapted to engage the top cord of the basket 63 so that it is thus possible readily to attach or detach the basket and the basket will at all times be held properly joined to the ring 60 when in place.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is simple in construction but it 2.1- fords novel means for securing a delayed return of the ball, that means being embodied in the basket I. It affords, also, an audible signal, or a visible signal, or both, when a ball is passed in the basket I.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a basket ball game apparatus, a basket comprising upper, intermediate and lower rings of progressively decreasing diameters, and downwardly converging spokes connecting the rings, the spokes being located outside the intermediate ring, whereby the intermediate ring will project into the basket, beyond the spokes, and aiford a circumferentially continuous shoulder, retarding the downward movement of a ball long enough to afford a visible signal when the ball moves downwardly anywhere about the circumference of the basket.

2. A basket ball apparatus constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the lower ring bears a like relation to the spokes, to afford a second, lower, circumferentially continuous, retarding shoulder.

WILLARD S. KETTERING. 

